Chapter 27 I Didn’t Believe Her From the Beginning
Gu Ruanci was not surprised by the woman's words.
"Even if you want to follow me, you still have to learn the rules. If you really make a mistake because of the rules and offend the noble, I may not be able to protect you. Just go with Madam in peace. You have plenty of time to make a choice."
After saying that, he stopped looking at the woman.
The nanny came forward and said to the woman gently, "Young lady, come with me."
The woman was very nervous and finally took a step back.
"You're not going to take me to a brothel, are you?"
The onlookers originally thought that this was the best outcome, but after hearing what the woman said, they became nervous.
"Don't be so soft-spoken. If you want to be a good person, don't just accept the reputation without taking action. Who did you learn this skill of seeking fame from?"
Zhou Yuxiu, who was left out, finally found a chance to speak.
He convinced himself that all this was caused by the choices made by Ye and Gu Ruanci.
Gu Ruanci was not shaken at all, and there was no tension at all.
"So when you wanted to follow me just now, you thought you could come directly to me without any training, and because of the power of the Shouguo Mansion, the government would definitely help you deal with this matter as soon as possible, right?"
When the woman heard Gu Ruan's words, she was not panicked at all, but rather a little timid.
"No...that's not what I meant...I only trust the county lady..."
Gu Ruanci said, "You don't believe me, you want to leave me in front of everyone. If you're not by my side when I go out in the future, it means I'm not good to you, I'm not kind enough, and I haven't given you a good future. These people are all witnesses."
The woman wanted to explain something, but Gu Ruanci didn't give her a chance.
"Kindness is a requirement of oneself, not a constraint on others. So many people are watching today, whispering, but no one has actually stepped forward to check on your father and guide you to tell the truth. Everyone is trying to figure out if they have enough money to buy you back as a slave. I've given you a chance to continue being a commoner. If, as you say, this nanny took you to a brothel, how can I still survive in the Imperial State?"
"You're not worth the risk."
"So, if you don't want to leave with Madam, then find another wealthy family to follow back with. I think the Zhou family's heir is quite good. He comes from a noble family, is unmarried, and serves in the city defense camp. He has a chance to become a favorite of the Emperor in the future. I can't offer you such an opportunity. If you or these onlookers think that this is unkind, then I want to see how you put kindness into action."
The woman was stunned. She had no way to refute what Gu Ruanci said.
Seeing that everyone was convinced, the person who had initially spoken for the woman was at his wit's end and spoke again: "But you, the County Lord, are the only one with a high status here, and you are also a woman, so it would be more appropriate for her to follow you. You are also more capable than us..."
Gu Ruanci looked him straight in the eye and said, "You're not me. Don't use the standards you think are appropriate to dictate how I should exercise my kindness. Being rich isn't a sin, but being unkind is. Being born into a noble family isn't a sin, but looking down on the common people is. Becoming a county lord isn't a sin either, but taking advantage of my power to bully others is. I simply didn't follow your instructions and allowed an orphan girl, who could be bullied by scoundrels at any time, to become a member of the Shouguo Mansion. Does that count as taking advantage of my power?"
The man said hesitantly, "Of course not."
Gu Ruanci then said to the woman, "What about you? Should you follow Madam, or try to win over Prince Zhou over there?"
Zhou Yuxiu immediately said, "What do you think the Zhou family is? You can stuff anyone you want into it."
"Why are you so fierce? No one said they chose you..."
Gu Yuxuan immediately defended him and even rolled his eyes at him.
Zhou Yuxiu was furious again, but he only heard the woman finally say, "I'll listen to the county lady."
After the woman left with the nanny, Gu Ruanci did not stay any longer. How the government dealt with the body was their business.
On the way back, the Gu family tacitly agreed not to mention this matter.
Even Gu Congyun and Zhuang Hefeng, who received the news, felt that there was nothing wrong with their daughter's behavior. Her kindness was something she wanted to express herself, not something forced upon her by others.
Originally, people thought that this matter would be slowly forgotten, but the news spread in Tianzhou City that evening. The woman who sold herself to bury her father in the south of the city turned out to be a spy from the enemy country. Her so-called father was an ordinary citizen of Dayao, who she killed and used as a disguise.
Even when the old man was found to have died of violence, she had taken precautions in advance. She wanted to use her miserable life experience to legitimately enter a wealthy family. After all, she did not have a household registration in Dayao, and there was almost no hope for her to go through formal channels.
As for the person in the crowd who set the pace and spoke for her, he was also her accomplice and has now been caught.
The officials of the city defense camp have been summoned to the palace by the emperor and reprimanded.
The people were all saying that it was fortunate that Princess Chaoyang was smart and calm. If the spy had really sneaked into the Shouguo Mansion, it would have brought great danger to Dayao.
"Soft words, have you noticed that there is something wrong with that woman a long time ago?" Gu Congyun asked during dinner in the evening.
"Yes." Gu Ruanci did not deny it.
Gu Yuxuan scratched his head and asked, "Sister, how did you find out?"
Gu Yuting actually felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure it out.
Seeing their bewildered expressions, Gu Ruanci said, "Since Daddy is her last relative, and she's even willing to sell herself to bury him, shouldn't she report him to the authorities and give him an explanation?"
After Gu Ruanci finished speaking, everyone suddenly understood.
"Her life story was well-crafted, and her lies were also well-made at first. However, the escape route she left for herself actually exposed her lies..."
Gu Yuting laid out the story and said, "That's right. The coroner didn't detect it at first, but then his master couldn't stand it anymore and went into battle himself. He found out that the old man had been poisoned, and this poison is commonly used by spies from the enemy country. If he hadn't been so experienced and battle-hardened, he would have been easily fooled."
Gu Yuxuan also remembered: "So, my sister asked Nongchun to report to the police in the beginning, hoping to find a coroner and make a big deal out of it. Later, she asked Zangxia to find that nanny. She must have told her something in advance and asked someone to control her..."
Gu Ruanci did not deny it, but praised Gu Yuxuan: "Today, you did not persuade me to bring him back because you sympathized with him. You deserve a reward."
The family was happily sharing their happiness and joy, but suddenly an imperial decree came from the palace.
The Empress Dowager learned that Gu Ruanci would go to the palace to express her gratitude tomorrow, so she asked her to stop by and chat.
Gu Yuting said with some concern, "After the Empress Dowager handed over the power of the harem to the Empress, she has rarely appeared in public. However, she dotes on the grandchildren of Prince Duan's Mansion. I'm afraid she summoned you because of the conflict with Princess Mingyue today..."
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